ZANESVILLE - A man who drove from Cincinnati to Zanesville to have sex with who he believed was an underage girl said his actions were depraved and it never should have happened.

"I embarrassed my family, my church, my friends, and there's nothing I can do to repair that except lead a completely different life," said Colby Owens, who appeared in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court on Monday for sentencing.

Owens, 34, previously pleaded guilty to importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. A joint agreement between the state and Owens's defense attorney recommends 15 months in prison.

Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill followed the recommendation.

Owens previously admitted to police that he drove 2.5 hours from his home near Cincinnati to Zanesville to have sex with a 15-year-old girl named Tiffany that he met in an online chat room. Tiffany, however, was an adult in Zanesville who was posing as a teen online, Assistant Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch previously said in court.

After conversing with Owens and discovering that he intended to drive to Zanesville to meet with the Tiffany, the individual became alarmed and contacted the Zanesville Police Department, Welch said. A detective took control of the account and traded messages with Owens.

In the messages, Owens described sex acts he wanted to perform on the girl, Welch said. When he arrived in Zanesville, he was arrested.